To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles… And indeed, that IS the question: whether to float with the tide, or to swim for a goal. It is a choice we must all make consciously or unconsciously at one time in our lives. So few people understand this! Think of any decision you’ve ever made which had a bearing on your future: I may be wrong, but I don’t see how it could have been anything but a choice however indirect — between the two things I’ve mentioned: the floating or the swimming. Hunter S. Thompson

Morning y'all,

It's a beautiful, blustery day up top. The high yesterday reached 34 degrees. The overnight low was 22 degrees. It was 23 degrees and mostly cloudy at 7am observation. The mountain received no new precipitation and had no snow on the ground.... until I awoke at 10sh from my post weather slumber and we got an inch in about 20 minutes. The trails were in great shape yesterday, but I'm sure the footing will be a little slick with this new snow. Be prepared for cold temps and slick trails if you intend to summit today!

Top photo: So smoky! Above: My older brother.

I spent yesterday out exploring, knowing that the forecast was calling for colder temps starting today. I wanted to take advantage of this last bit of warm weather before Jack Frost settled in for the season and unofficially started my torpor. I love deep winter and will always root for snow, but if it's not snow, the next best thing is clear trails. I was running up and down the mountain with no regard for black ice, feeling so free and unencumbered with my little 13 liter day pack. It was outrageously fun, an effort that felt like no effort because it was fueled by pure joy. These types of spontaneous micro-adventures make memories, as my friend Jimmy Jam would say. It is so encouraging to remind yourself that experiences are all we have and if we work at it, we can cultivate the spectacular.

How did we get from Shakespeare to Hunter Thompson? :) I think we need a transition point. I propose Alfred Jarry.

phillip

12/9/2014 04:57:13 am

Excellent question Jenny B. Hunter S. Thompson isn't on the same league as Shakespeare. Thompson was an agitator and a despot at best. I know one thing, Thompson could never make the hike up the mountain !

Thanks, Philip. Actually, I have nothing against Hunter S. Thompson. I thought "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" was great. But I was amused that JP connected him with Shakespeare and in the interests of a fun discussion I thought I'd say something about that.

Kent

12/9/2014 05:58:50 am

Thompson was was far more than just an “agitator.” I don't agree with everything he wrote by a long shot, but the one thing that I admire about him is he was not afraid to question the accepted social order and expose venerated institutions for what they were. I'll always admire anyone that fearless and iconoclastic, to a large degree. He was a troubled man to be sure – hedonistic, maybe even sociopathic – but his contribution to journalism cannot be underemphasized.

Joel

12/9/2014 06:01:19 am

I was intrigued by the tree - I lost track around 250 - is there more to this story?

norman

12/9/2014 06:21:35 am

I was lost to start with!! Sun coming through the tree was good !

Phillip

12/9/2014 06:47:24 am

Ok. But Thompson would have been censored immediately if he ever posted his comments here !

Kent

12/9/2014 08:17:08 am

So would Shakespeare, I suspect.

Comments are closed.

LeConte Lodge

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